Shopping Cart Types

Main features, advantages and disadvantages

Prepared by Cart2Cart TeamNovember, 2012

http://www.shopping-cart-migration.com/

1. Shopping Cart Types● Open Source Shopping Carts● Hosted Shopping Carts● CMS + eCommerce Plug-in

2. Shopping Cart Pros and Cons

3. Cart2Cart Migration Service

Plan

Shopping Cart Types

Shopping cart is software used in e-commerce to assist people making purchases online.

Shopping Cart Types

Shopping Cart Types:

1. Open Source○ Free○ Paid

2. Hosted

3. CMS + eCommerce Plugin

1. Full access to source code+ Customizable and flexible- Difficult to manage without programming skills2. Free+ Low or even zero costs+ Big variety of extensions, modules, templates- Support is often available for extra money- Known for issues with upgrades, bugs and data security3. Paid+ Support charges are already included+ High data security- Paid solutions may cost up to several thousands of US dollars- Lack of extensions

Open Source Shopping Carts

Turnkey solution

+ No hosting and installation issues+ Easy to use+ Flexible design opportunities+ Simple upgrade process, high stability+ High data security+ Professional Support

- Paid- Less customizable- Small number of extensions (most of them are paid)

Hosted Shopping Carts

Content Management System (CMS) is the application that allows to manage, add and modify the website content.

CMS + eCommerce Plugin

+ Open Source+ eCommerce plugin inherits all the advantages of CMS (integration with templates, SEO, admin panel, integration with other extensions)

- Lack of top end features (multi-store, separate admin zone for vendors, affiliate programs, Social Media Marketing tools, etc.)

- Founded in 2008 by Varien (USA) - Powers over 125 000 stores - Open source (free and paid editions) - Recently released own hosted solution Magento GO

Shopping Cart Pros and Cons

Advantages

● Flexible and customizable● Fully loaded with features

(product management, inventory, marketing,SEO,etc)

● Multiple storefronts, languages, currencies, taxes

● Numerous payment and shipment options

● Big community, huge number of extensions

Disadvantages

● Difficult to use (even for programmers)

● Resource consuming (slow)● Buggy, full of errors

● Official support and some features are available only with paid editions

● Initial release 2007 (France)● Downloaded more than 2 000 000 times● Powers 125 000 Internet shops● Open source (totally free)

Shopping Cart Pros and Cons

Advantages

● Has all the same features as Magento but much easier to use

● Less resource consuming and faster than Magento

● Large number of extensions, modules and addons

● Support available

Disadvantages

● Not stable after major upgrades, buggy

● Some important extensions available only for additional costs (social media, mCommerce)

● Launched in 2001 (Russia)● 25 000 online stores are using X-Cart● Open source solution, offers both hosted and self-hosted

solutions (unlimited trial period)

Shopping Cart Pros and Cons

Advantages

● Customizable (PHP and WYSIWYG)

● Fits any type of business● Security, shipment, payment● CMS capabilities● Almost no bugs, new editions

are stable

Disadvantages

● Advanced features available with highly priced plans (MailChimp, Google Analytics, SMM)

● Lack of top end features (multi-store, multi-vendor, etc.)

● Requires some technical expertize to set up

● Started in 2004 (Russia)● 30 000 users● 30 days free trial● Open source (only paid)

Shopping Cart Pros and Cons

Advantages

● Fast due to use of AJAX technology● Mobile commerce● Multi-Vendor Store● Multiple storefronts● Block management● Support main payment and shipment

gateways● Reasonably priced, support and data

security

Disadvantages

● Lack of extensions

● No SMM options

● Closed Community Edition

● First released in 1999 (Germany)● Joomla native● Open source (free)

Shopping Cart Pros and Cons

Advantages

● All the benefits of Joomla (advanced CMS, user-friendly, SEO, etc.)

● Customizable● Great localization options● Feature-rich● Big number of extensions● Payment/Shipment ● Coupons and discounts

Disadvantages

● Lack of advanced eCommerce features

● No support

● May not meet all the demands of middle-large scale business

● Founded in 1999 (USA)● Powers 40 000 stores● Hosted paid solution (14 days free trial)

Shopping Cart Pros and Cons

Advantages

● Easy to use, intuitive● Feature rich (cross-sells,

discounts, SEO, etc.)● eBay and Facebook integration● Free templates (120)● Security and support● Reasonable pricing● No extra fees

Disadvantages

● Has less customization options than OS

● No user-friendly template editor (only HTML and CSS)

● Small number of extensions

● Date of inception 2005● More than 30 000 stores● Hosted paid solution 30 days free trial

Shopping Cart Pros and Cons

Advantages

● 100+ free templates● Themes can be customized via

user-friendly editor and CSS/HTML files

● Feature rich● CMS capabilities● Mobile commerce● Security and support

Disadvantages

● 1-2% extra fee for each transaction

● Lack of free extensions

● Less customizable than OS

● Started in 2009 (USA)● Serves 25 000 shops in 65 countries● Hosted paid solution (15 days free trial)

Shopping Cart Pros and Cons

Advantages

● Intuitive and user-friendly● One of the most feature-rich

hosted carts (SEO, marketing, product management, SMM, mobile commerce, design, save abandoned carts, etc.)

● Security, support, extensions● Stable, no bugs● Built-in business analytics +

integration with Google Analytics

Disadvantages

● Pricing

● Some advanced features are absent

● Less customizable

● Automated shopping cart migration service● Launched in 2009 (Ukraine)● More than 11 000 of successful migrations● http://www.shopping-cart-migration.com

Cart2Cart Migration Service

Advantages

● User-friendly (no software to download, no programming skills)

● Allows products, orders and clients data transfer from and to 40+ shopping carts

● Sell even during the migration● Numerous additional options● Reasonable pricing● Free Demo Migration● Total data security and free

support

Disadvantages

● Do not migrate website design

● Do not migrate customer testemonials, news and other site content

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_shopping_cart_software

http://www.shopping-cart-migration.com/

http://www.shopping-cart-migration.com/useful-articles/49-volusion/5365-volusion-or-big-commerce-whats-the-right-way-to-success-

http://zippycart.com/

http://shopping-cart-review.toptenreviews.com/

http://andrewbleakley.com/blog/

http://www.ecommerce-platforms.com/

http://www.shopping-cart-migration.com/useful-articles/43-prestashop/5361-battle-of-the-year-prestashop-vs-magento

Sources